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Rogers attorney accepts adoption award Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 By Alison Vekshin Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Each Christmas, Gene Kelley's home in Rogers is flooded with photographs of children he has helped place with adoptive parents. Last year, a Mississippi couple sent Kelley and his wife, Joye, a picture of their two young daughters wearing matching dresses and a note telling them that they made their family. "And every time I think about slowing down, I say I can't do it," said Kelley, still a practicing attorney at age 66. For nearly three decades, Kelley has arranged adoptions for more than 700 children in Arkansas and as far away as Germany and Holland. On Tuesday, the Arkansan was recognized for his work with an "Angels in Adoption" award at a Capitol Hill ceremony hosted by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. The event in an ornate congressional hearing room honored more than 180 people who have arranged and promoted adoptions. Kelley was accompanied by Joye, who also is his office manager, and their daughter, Shelby, 32, an attorney in Washington, D.C. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, recommended Kelley for the award. Kelley practices adoption law and estate planning at Kelley Law Firm in Rogers, where he stores photo albums filled with pictures of children he has placed. Before Monday, Kelley said he did not know about the award and thought he was coming to Washington to visit his daughter. "It caught me completely by surprise," he said. The father of five and grandfather of four said the work was very difficult. "There are a lot of emotional ups and downs involved," he said. "Anybody that's in the adoption business is really putting their heart and soul into it." One case in particular stood out "because to me the birth mother was the most impressive person that I've ever met," Kelley said. A 22-year-old Hot Springs woman got in touch with him and asked for help in placing her 9-month-old son for adoption. She told Kelley she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and had four years to live. "She said 'my son deserves better than my family,'" Kelley said, recalling the conversation. "'They're in and out of jail. They don't live the right way.'" Kelley accompanied the young woman to deliver the baby to the adoptive parents, who flew in from out of state. Kelley recalled vividly how difficult the moment was for the birth mother, but the only thing she asked for from Kelley was to receive photos of the baby. "To me, that was the most courageous person that I ever came across," he said. "But I have hundreds of stories that go along that line." Every once in a while, Kelley recognizes children around the community whom he has placed with adoptive parents. "Virtually without exception, when the children are put in a proper home with proper food and discipline and upbringing, these kids all do exceedingly well," he said. Joye Kelley said her husband's work has involved some sleepless nights and long drives to hospitals. "But he's been very dedicated to it with great love and compassion," she said. After the ceremony, she helped her husband don a metal pin depicting an angel with five stars over its head that he got at the ceremony. -- 30 -- |
